Dress Code is the debut release from Colorado-based string ensemble Altius Quartet. Comprised of violinists Joshua Ulrich and Andrew Giordano, violist Andrew Krimm, and cellist Zachary Reaves, the quartet’s core mission is to strive for universality in their music and communicate directly with their listeners. It’s this outlook that led to DRESS CODE’s eclectic blend of genres, with works from eighteenth-century classical repertoire to 1980s pop being presented both on their own and combined in new arrangements...

Reading through the track listing for this album I couldn't help thinking "This just isn't going to work". Sure, it sounds novel, but how can you include Haydn's 'String Quartet in C major, Op. 74, No. 1' on the same album as a string quartet reworking of A-Ha's 'Take On Me'? That's just crazy.

But, it does work! And rather impressively too. The album opens with 'Allegro Moderato' from Haydn's String Quartet'. In fact this album is mainly comprised of this work, but interspersed with more modern pop music as well as several ragtime pieces by William Bolcom. But also stirred into the mix is a reworking of Led Zeppelin’s 'Stairway to Heaven' and 'Kashmir'; Ben E. King’s 'Stand by Me'; and the aforementioned 'Take on Me'.

And as if mixing so many styles wasn't enough, how about a new arrangement that pairs Michael Jackson’s 'Beat It' with Dave Brubeck’s 'Take Five'? Sounds odd... but again, it strangely works.

The appeal for this album is huge. It introduces classical music to those that are not normally fans; gives us bizarrely beautiful reworkings of modern classic songs that everyone knows; and it acts as a more lighthearted classical album if you're in the mood for something a little less heavy.

Track listing:

Franz Joseph Haydn
String Quartet in C major, Op. 74, No. 1
01 - I. Allegro moderato

Dave Brubeck/Michael Jackson arr. Zachary Reaves
02 - Take it

William Bolcom
Three Rags
03 - II. Graceful Ghost

Led Zeppelin arr. Zachary Reaves
04 - Stairway to Heaven/Kashmir

Franz Joseph Haydn
String Quartet in C major, Op. 74, No. 1
05 - II. Andantino grazioso

William Bolcom
Three Rags
06 - I. Poltergeist

Franz Joseph Haydn
String Quartet in C major, Op. 74, No. 1
07 - III. Menuetto: Allegro – Trio

William Bolcom
Three Rags
08 - III. Incineratorag

Ben E. King arr. Zachary Reaves
09 - Stand by Me

Franz Joseph Haydn
String Quartet in C major, Op. 74, No. 1
10 - IV. Vivace

a-ha arr. Zachary Reaves
11 - Take on Me

Bonus Track
Mack Rice arr. Zachary Reaves
12 - Mustang Sally

8

Darren Rea